Foreign Naval Capabilities

ONI regularly produces publications for sailors of the United States Navy deployed around the world. However, it also produces unclassified reports available to the public for use by academics, policy makers, scientists, and naval enthusiasts alike.

Russia
China
Iran

The Russian Navy

ONI's unclassified report on Russia's navy, The Russian Navy - A Historic Transition, looks historically and currently at the role played by Russian naval forces. It is the first such report discussing the Russian Federation Navy by ONI since the seventh and last issue of Understanding Soviet Naval Developments published in 1991.

Publications

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Presentation Graphics

2021 RFN Recognition & Identification Guide

Russian Federation Navy | Russian Navy New Construction

Russian Navy Major Forces by Fleet | Russian Navy Major Forces by Fleet (Continue)

The People's Liberation Army - Navy (PLAN)

Videos

China's Defensive Layers

South China Seas Maritime Claims

Guides

PLA Navy Identification Guide (2024)

China Coast Guard and Government Maritime Forces (2024)

The Iranian Navy

A Tale of Two Navies (2017)

At the time of our first publication in 2009, Iran’s two navies were only a few years into a major reorganization, and each service was navigating through a period of considerable change. Now, nearly a decade following the reorganization, we have a better understanding of Iran’s ultimate intentions for the reorganization and clearer insight into how its navies are progressing during this time of transition. This new insight and understanding have made it even more necessary to consider and address each of Iran’s navies as distinct organizations with independent strategies, doctrines and missions. It is, in fact, a tale of two navies.

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Graphics:

Iranian National Military/Navy Command and Control Leadership

IRIN/IRGCN ship identification guide